Francis Bryan

Francis Bryan (1490-2 February 1550) was a courtier and diplomat of King Henry VIII of England who served as Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Lord Justice of Ireland.

Biography
Francis Bryan was born in Buckinghamshire, England in 1490, the son of the vice-chamberlain of Queen Catherine of Aragon and Margaret Bryan. He came to court at a young age, and he became known as an intemperate courtier of King Henry VIII of England. In 1519, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had him removed from the Privy Chamber, and he later lost an eye during a tournament at Greenwich. In 1528, his cousin Anne Boleyn ensured that he was able to return to the Privy Chamber, and he became one of King Henry's most favored companions. His rakish sexual life and his lack of principle at the time of his cousin Anne's downfall earned him the nickname "the Vicar of Hell". In 1539, his ally Thomas Cromwell turned against him and fired him as Chief Gentleman of the Privy Chamber, and he instead became Vice-Admiral of the Fleet and Lord Justice of Ireland during the reign of King Edward VI of England. He died in Clonmel, Ireland in 1550.